BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday announced financial assistance for the 1.2 lakh dairy farmers of the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Omfed). Each farmer will receive a maximum of Rs 6,000 towards the expenses of animal feed.
Officials said while this will cost the state government around Rs 11 crore, it will help the farmers save some money spent on cattle fodder. While making the announcement, Naveen said, “The Covid pandemic has affected world economy including Odisha’s. When other sectors of the economy were slowing down, agriculture and the allied sectors helped strengthen it.”
He appreciated the farmers for continuing agricultural production during lockdown and shutdown. These milk farmers have faced a very difficult time owing to the decrease in the demand for milk and milk products during the pandemic. Keeping their hardships in mind, the government has taken a decision to help the farmers,” Naveen was quoted as saying.
Rabi Behera, chairman of the Odisha Milk Farmers’ Association expressed his gratitude to the chief minister for all the help. He, however, added, “We still demand that state government hike the minimum support price of milk to support the milk farmers.”
He further said the state government should regulate the price of cattle feed in the market. At present, farmers pay Rs 1,080 per quintal of cattle feed, the cost of which was Rs 940 until a few months ago. The prices of other categories of cattle feed have also gone up.
During the first week of May, the Omfed had decided to restrict milk procurement across the unions in the state owing to poor demand. The move had evoked sharp reactions from the milk farmers unions.
